“There she is,” Coochie said when we walked into Liquid Anarchy. He stepped out from behind the bar to hug me. “You look great!”
“Thanks,” I said. “So do you.” It’d been at least a year since I’d seen him, maybe two.
“Come on over to the bar and have a seat,” he said. “I’ll get your drinks.”
“Oh, we haven’t ordered drinks yet,” I said.
He grinned and winked. “Birthday girls don’t order drinks.”
Before long, I’d forgotten about my nerves and was having a great time playing a game of pool with Jewel, Charli, and Polly. “I’m going to get us another round of drinks,” I said and gestured between me and Jewel. “Do either of you need anything?”
Charli placed a hand on her growing stomach and grinned. “I’m good.”
“Same, but I need to pee again,” Polly said and patted her own growing belly before she made her way to the bathroom.
I left Jewel and Charli at the pool table and ordered our drinks at the bar. While I was waiting, two men sat at the bar. I glanced at them and realized I recognized them. They were members of the club in Kailua. They weren’t wearing their cuts, but I knew it was them.
“Here you go,” Coochie said, placing the drinks on the counter.
“Thanks. Hey, do you know how to make a stinky pink gator?” I asked, making up a name for a drink.
Coochie shook his head. “Never heard of it. What’s in it?”
“Do you have a pen?” I asked and grabbed a napkin. “I’ll write it down for you.” When he handed me a pen, I quickly scribbled a note.
The two guys at the end of the bar are new members of the Depraved Sinners in Kailua. They’re trouble.
“Sorry. I know it’s a lot,” I said and passed the napkin to him.
He read the note and nodded. “Yeah, we can handle this. You sure?”
“Yes,” I said and picked up the drinks. “Thanks.”
When I returned to the girls and handed Jewel her drink, she took one look at me and asked, “What’s wrong?”
I opened my mouth to tell her about the two bikers, but all hell broke loose before I could.
“Get the fuck out!” Cooter boomed as he stormed toward the bar.
I turned in time to see one of the bikers pull a gun from his pants. He kept his eyes on Cooter while he pointed the gun at Charli. “Her first,” the guy said.
I didn’t think. I just reacted and dove for Charli, taking her to the ground as gunshots rang out behind me and a burning fire erupted in my shoulder.
“They’re down!” someone yelled.
“Birdie!” Jewel screamed.
“Charli,” I mumbled.
“I’m okay,” she said shakily. “But you’re not.”
“You will be,” Cooter said and ripped something from his cut. “You saved my wife and unborn child tonight. Keep this. If you ever need anything, bring it back to me.” He placed his motto patch in my hand as I closed my eyes and succumbed to darkness.
“Yes, I want to use it!”I said incredulously.
Coochie raised his hands with his palms out. “I didn’t want to make any assumptions.”
“Why wouldn’t I use it? Because she killed my son?”
